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And I'm off...

Well by the time you read this, I will be on the plane to Hawaii for the first event of the World Bodyboarding Tour at the Pipeline.

I haven't talked about it yet, but I have been pretty focused over the last month and am really looking forward to getting into some quality waves.

It's a fresh start for the 2010-year. This is the first event and the one that could set the pace for the whole year. Never over the last three years, have I felt more confident than I do now. Finally, I am on good boards and this has made a huge difference to my frame of mind. Over the past years I have struggled to get consistent boards and despite how much you tell yourself you're ready, if you're not confident in your equipment, you're kidding yourself. I have also changed the shape of my board. I now ride what I used to ride when I won the World Title, a bat tail. It feels faster and loser on the wave, which I think complements my style. I have trained a lot over the past month, however I have tweaked my training regime slightly. I have been reading a health book that talks about over stretching certain muscles and not stretching others enough. If you're not in tune with your body, it will be out of balance. Over the last year I have stretched so much that I think I have gone overboard. This has resulted in a constant sore back when I used to train/compete. I have now changed my stretching program and introduced more core strength exercise. Since the changes my back has not been sore and my body feels fit. That said, my muscles are constantly sore, but a good sore. I have been putting them through their paces, but one day of rest and they will be biting at the bit to be used again.

All that said, you never know how things will pan out? I felt last year wasn't the luckiest of years. Despite my board issues and over stretching, luck just didn't seem to go my way. The reality is you need to be focused, prepared and confident, but you also need a little luck on your side. A set wave to come through when you're down on your luck, the 0.05 to go your way not the competitors, little things like that make a big difference. Even when I won both World Titles, I felt luck was on my side, I thought my mum was sending me waves just when I needed them... eg. the first freak wave of the final (in the first five seconds) of the World Title at backdoor -9.5, and the last wave of the second world title at Maui - 10 points. Without those waves I would never have been world champion. I even had Tamaga once say to me "I can't believe your luck”. That  said, you still need to know how to use that luck if it comes your way eg. double air reverse on the second title wave and spin in barrel to invert, for the first world title wave, but having the wave/opportunity to perform helps a lot. It's not a frame of mind I like to be in, I try not to believe in luck, in fact quite the opposite "You create your own reality" is my belief. Admittedly there is such a thing as luck, and I pray I have a little go my way this year.

So, I'm off to the big H. I believe I have ticked all the preparation boxes and now it's time to officially get amongst it. The first day I arrive is 12 feet plus Pipe, there is the indescribable feeling of walking down the beach of big Pipe, it feels like you're a gladiator wait to kill or be killed.

I look forward to keeping you posted from the North Shore!


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